Related:

(KMOV.com) – Bridgeton Police say a scam artist is using one of the department’s phone numbers to try get residents to give up money.

Through a process called spoofing, the caller confuses the resident’s caller ID so that it appears the number is coming from the city of Bridgeton. The man on the other line poses as a police officer or federal agent, and says they need to call another number and give money to avoid an arrest.

Police Chief Don Hood said similar operations have been used all over the country, and they want to make sure residents don’t get lured in; especially since the department doesn’t ask for money in that fashion.

“We don’t do that and they should not respond in any way shape or form,” he said. “They should contact the police department.”

When News 4 called the number, the person on the other end of the line said it was a residence in Los Angeles and there had been a miscommunication.

Chief Hood says they’re still investigating. Charges could range from extortion to impersonating a police officer